Bob, when coupled with mist netting, the Anabat is the standard to be
compatible with other data. As a stand along without netting it is also
the standard. Many others have come along as follows but I know nothing
about the new ones.
John
AnaBat - A Zero-crossing detector only, designed to work most compatibly
with AnaLook software for analysis. Several models are available, and
most can be connected to a netbook or PDA for instant viewing of the bat
call as it is coming in so it can be used for active monitoring.
On-board CF storage cards allow for passive monitoring. The small
file-sizes of the recordings allows for long-term, season-long or year
long recording events to a single high-capacity card.
Pettersson - produces heterodyne, Zero-crossing, Time-expansion, and
direct-recording models, including models that combine two or more of
these technologies. Different models can be used for active or passive
monitoring and many are ideally suited for long-term deployment, with
on-board CF card slots to store up to 128GB of recordings. Pettersson
detectors have many advantages, including the highest-quality
microphones and extremely dependable electronics. The D500x model has
become the "go to" full-spectrum, solution for long-term monitoring at
several wind turbine installations. With an external battery, the unit
can record for 4 weeks at a time and in a 2011 project in PA, two units
deployed at a wind farm experienced 100% uptime during an 8-month
monitoring period.
Binary Acoustic Technology - produces mainly direct-recording detectors
employing the full-spectrum recording technology using the same
microphone as in the AnaBat. These units can be paired with external
storage devices, netbooks, or laptops for indefinite long-term passive
monitoring or to provide snapshots of full-spectrum recordings during
active recording or driving transect efforts. They offer the largest
selection of USB powered microphones of any manufacturers; each model
has aparticular speciality such as type field coverage. Detectors are
robust, simple to operate, and reliable under typical field conditions.
Wildlife Acoustics - produces some of the newest bat detectors on the
market and has a long history of working with technologies to record
wildlife. Their entry into bat models included the SM2+ and EM3 which
were both discontinued after only a few seasons in the market. The SM2+
was designed for passive monitoring and includes a reduced sample rate
option, which allows for dual microphone deployment so bats can be
recorded on one channel while other wildlife is recorded on the other.
Multiple slots for SD-HC flash memory cards allow for unattended
monitoring for up to one month. External power and storage capacity will
extend this period. The EM3 was designed to be used as an active or
short-term passive detector. It had a low resolution on-board LCD screen
to display real-time views of bat sonographs in addition to storage for
a single SD-HC flash memory card allowing for unattended recording. Both
detectors can record zero-cross and full-spectrum data. These devices
have been superceeded by the SM3 and the Echometer Touch, which we will
review when they become availabe in 2014.
Great, so what do I actually have to do with all these recordings to
figure out what kind of bats I've got?
There are also many different software products designed for the display
and analysis of bat echolocation recordings. The two most popular
packages are:
AnaLook W. [1] This software is most compatible with AnaBat detectors,
but also allows analysis of files recorded by SM2BAT+ recording in
native zero-cross mode. Â Any full spectrum file can be converted to ZC
format and viewed in Analook, however, as mentioned above, sound
features such as harmonics and peak frequency are lost. Analook
provides a full range of parameter extraction and filtering capabilities
for making species identification classifications. The interface is not
terribly user friendly however, and true competency can best be obtained
thru constant practice and use or by attending a software training
workshop.
SonoBat 3.0x [2]. [1] This program is compatible with any full-spectrum
detector unit being produced today. Various utilities are designed to
speed post-processing along so calls can be easily and efficiently
imported allowing for rapid analysis. The program has a built-in
classifier, which will automatically provide call and sequence
classifications, outputting a discriminate probability value for the
classification as well as a complete set of time-frequency and
time-amplitude call parameters for each recording. The interface is very
user friendly and versions for Mac OSX and PC Microsoft Windows
platforms are available.
Other software products in use include: SCAN'R (Binary Acoustics
Technology), BatSound (Pettersson), Avisoft, and Song Scope (Wildlife
Acoustics).
---
John and Sue Gregoire
Field Ornithologists
Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
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